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Harlequins v Edinburgh Rugby: The permutations

Tuesday, 10th January 2017 @ 18:45

With the European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finals approaching, Saturday's match at The Stoop will shape the qualification chances of both teams (kick-off 15:00).

European Rugby returns to The Stoop on Saturday, when Harlequins take on Edinburgh Rugby in round five of the Challenge Cup. A win for either side will greatly help their chances of making the knock-out stages with the Londoners in first place and Edinburgh in second in Pool 5.

As it stands

Top of the Pool Harlequins currently have 17 points, thanks to three European wins out of four and five bonus points- the most in the competition.

Edinburgh lie one spot and two points behind them, after defeat to Stade Francais in the last round ended their 100 per cent record in the competition.

Stade are third with 11 points after winning two matches and losing two and Romanian side Timisoara Saracens are bottom of the Pool with no points.

What happens after the Pool stage?

Following the Pool stage, the eight quarter-finalists are ranked – Pool winners from 1 to 5, and runners-up from 6–8 – based on performance in their respective Pool.

The four Pool winners with the best Pool record receive home advantage for the quarter-finals against one of the four lower-ranked teams, in a 1v8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5 format.

What has to happen on Saturday for Harlequins to win the Pool?

Scenario one

Harlequins would have to win with a bonus point and prevent Edinburgh Rugby getting two losing bonus points.

Should that scenario occur- and regardless of the Stade Francais v Timisoara Saracens result- Harlequins would be six points clear at the top of the Pool going into the final round of fixtures.

Scenario two

Harlequins would have to win, regardless of bonus points, stop Edinburgh Rugby from getting any losing bonus points and Timisoara Saracens would have to prevent Stade Francais from getting a bonus point win in Romania. Should that scenario pan out, Harlequins would go into round six, six points clear at the top of the Pool.

Should neither of this scenarios occur, qualification from the Pool will be decided in the final round of fixtures.

What happens if by the end of the Pool stage, two teams are on the same number of points?

Should any more than one team finish on the same number of points their ranking will be determined by the results of the two matches played between the relevant clubs as follows:

(i) The Club with the greater number of match points from those matches; or
(ii) If equal, the Club with the best aggregate points difference from those matches: or
(iii) If equal, the Club that scored the most tries in those matches.

Tickets for Saturday's all-important clash with Edinburgh Rugby are still available and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the Harlequins Ticket Office on 020 8410 6000.